What do a multi-million fifth generation fighter jet and an SF-260 light training aircraft have in common? August 8, 2011
Posted by David Cenciotti in Aviation, Aviation Safety, Italian Air Force, Military Aviation.Tags: AMI, carbon monoxide, F-22, grounding, hypoxia, Italian Air Force, On-Board Oxygen Generation System, Raptor, SF-260, stand down, USAF
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Here’s the F-22, a fifth generation fighter jet:
And here’s the SF-260EA of the Italian Air Force, a light aircraft used for initial pilot training:
What do they have in common? Both have had problem with carbon monoxide.
The stealthy F-22 Raptor, the US Air Force most advanced fighter, was grounded (in what is the longest full fleet grouding of recent aviation history) due to carbon monoxide entering the cockpit via the aircraft’s oxygen system, the same type of problem affecting the SF-260EA, the latest version of the famous Italian trainer.
The US fighter was grounded on May 3, 2011, after 14 incidents in which pilots suffered hypoxia-like symptoms. Hypoxia is a condition of inadequate oxygen supply that can have fatal consequences.
Hypoxia can be caused when carbon monoxide generated by the engines enters the cockpit because of the placement of the aircraft air intakes or of particular operating procedures, like those used at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, where the majority of the incidents have occurred, and where the aircraft perform the start up procedure of the engine inside the shelters, because of the cold temperatures. Exhaust gases then could be sucked back by into the engines and enter the On-Board Oxygen Generation System (OBOGS).
While the problem affecting the F-22 is still under evaluation, the SF-260EA has been fixed, even if the type was never interested by a fleet-wide stand down.
The carbon monoxide into the cockpit was one of the minor issues on the “260″. Amount was limited, leakage sporadic, and pilots got used to it quite fast.
In June 2009, I flew the SF-260 during an orientation flight and experienced hypoxia symptoms caused by exhaust gases entering the cockpit. Headache, fatigue and nausea leading almost to loss of consciousness. “That’s normal” explained the Instructor Pilot who flew with me “local instructors and student pilots are used to the gases but people who don’t fly too often with this type of aircraft, can experience this kind of symptoms, especially when outside temperature is extremely hot and we have to use the onboard air conditioning system to make the cockpit more comfortable”.
Even if sucked carbon monoxide into the SF-260 cockpit didn’t cause any serious aviation safety issue on the fleet, the problem has been fixed. In the meanwhile, some 160 F-22 Raptors remain grounded indefinitely and their pilots, despite ongoing simulator training, are quickly losing their currencies.
Unfortunately the problem with the F22 looks like is not only from carbon monoxide: recent analysis found traces of hot oil, burned antifreeze and propane in blood test for pilots from 6 out of 7 F22 bases.
http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17824:f-22-grounding-means-raptor-pilots-are-losing-qualification&catid=35:Aerospace&Itemid=107
David, the newer SF-260′s (the EA’s) have more headroom with a taller canopy, no?
Yes.
Nevertheless, as a former naval fighter pilot,
I still remain fond of this SF260…and ready to buy one for
cadet pilot screening (military applicants or airline candidates).
+ skill & proficiency + aerobatic+ hiring training.
Regards,
Claude